Centre for Policy on Ageing



Educational interests and motivations of older adult learners — a comparative study between Australia and China
Author(s)	Cliff Picton, Caroline Yuen
Journal title	Ageing International, vol XXIV, nos 2/3, Fall 1997 /Winter 1998
Publisher	International Federation on Ageing - IFA, Fall 1997 /Winter 1998
Pages	pp 24-45
Keywords	U3A ; Adult Education ; Attitude ; Participation ; Comparison ; China ; Australia.
Annotation	This study identifies and compares the educational interests and motivations of learners in Australian Universities of the Third Age (U3A) and the Chinese Universities for the Aged (UA). A questionnaire was administered to the educational providers to identify students' preferred subjects. Another questionnaire asked individual learners about their motives for enrolment. There are both similarities and differences between Australian and Chinese older adult learners. Australian U3A members have a very strong tendency to be learning oriented, to be interested in expensive education, to favour self-directed learning, and to have expressive drive to participate in U3A classes. Though the Chinese UA learners are more goal-oriented, instrumentally motivated, and cling to traditional school format, they prefer both expressive and instrumental learning activities. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-990208211 A
Classmark	V5A: GP: DP: TMB: 48: 7DC: 7YA
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.